# US 10,374,115 B2 · Microfluidic system and method for driving the same

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- Number: US 10,374,115 B2
- Document ID: US10374115B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/971,543
- Filed: 2018-05-04
- Published: 2019-03-28
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-27
- Assignees: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Xueyou Cao; Xue Dong; Haisheng Wang; Xiaoliang Ding; Yingming Liu; Yanling Han; Yuzhen Guo; Pengpeng Wang; Chihjen Cheng; Ping Zhang; Wei Liu; Likai Deng; Yangbing Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374115B2

## CPC

- H10F 30/2863: {Field-effect phototransistors having PN homojunction gates}
- B01L 3/5027: {by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip}
- B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces}
- B01L 3/502792: {for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension}
- B81B 1/00: Devices without movable or flexible elements, e.g. microcapillary devices
- G01N 27/44721: {by optical means}
- H10F 30/28: the devices being characterised by field-effect operation, e.g. junction field-effect phototransistors
- H10K 59/60: OLEDs integrated with inorganic light-sensitive elements, e.g. with inorganic solar cells or inorganic photodiodes
- B01L 2200/02: Adapting objects or devices to another
- B01L 2200/0673: Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
- B01L 2300/0645: Electrodes
- B01L 2300/0654: Lenses; Optical fibres
- B01L 2300/0887: Laminated structure
- B01L 2300/165: Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces
- B01L 2400/0427: Electrowetting
- B81B 2201/058: Microfluidics not provided for in B81B2201/051 - B81B2201/054
- G09G 3/344: {based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices (electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167)}
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B81B: MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICAL DEVICES (piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements per se H10N30/00, H10N35/00)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00)

## Abstract

A microfluidic system includes a liquid drop accommodation space, an array of photosensitivity detection circuits and an array of driving circuits between an upper substrate and a lower substrate. Each photosensitivity detection circuit includes a photosensitive transistor and a first gating transistor. The photosensitive transistor has a gate electrode coupled to a first scan signal line, a source electrode coupled to a first power supply voltage signal line, and a drain electrode coupled to a source electrode of the first gating transistor. The first gating transistor has a gate electrode coupled to a second scan signal line, and a drain electrode coupled to a read signal line. Each driving circuit includes a driving transistor and a driving electrode. The driving transistor has a gate electrode coupled to a third scan signal line, a source electrode coupled to a data signal line, and a drain electrode coupled to the driving electrode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A microfluidic system comprising:
an upper substrate;
a lower substrate that is opposite to the upper substrate;
a liquid drop accommodation space between the upper substrate and the lower substrate;
a first hydrophobic layer at an outermost surface of the upper substrate, and the outermost surface of the upper substrate facing the liquid drop accommodation space;
a second hydrophobic layer at an outermost surface of the lower substrate, and the outermost surface of the lower substrate facing the liquid drop accommodation space;
a common electrode layer between the upper substrate and the lower substrate;
an array of photosensitivity detection circuits between the lower substrate and the second hydrophobic layer; and
an array of driving circuits between the lower substrate and the second hydrophobic layer;
wherein each photosensitivity detection circuit includes a photosensitive transistor and a first gating transistor;
wherein a gate electrode of the photosensitive transistor is coupled to a first scan signal line, a source electrode of the photosensitive transistor is coupled to a first power supply voltage signal line, and a drain electrode of the photosensitive transistor is coupled to a source electrode of the first gating transistor;
wherein a gate electrode of the first gating transistor is coupled to a second scan signal line, and a drain electrode of the first gating transistor is coupled to a read signal line; and
wherein each driving circuit includes a driving transistor and a driving electrode; a gate electrode of the driving transistor is coupled to a third scan signal line, a source electrode of the driving transistor is coupled to a data signal line, and a drain electrode of the driving transistor is coupled to the driving electrode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein each photosensitivity detection circuit further includes a reset transistor and a follower transistor; and the reset transistor and the follower transistor are between the photosensitive transistor and the first gating transistor;
wherein a gate electrode of the reset transistor is coupled to a fourth scan signal line; a source electrode of the reset transistor is coupled to a reset signal line; a drain electrode of the reset transistor is coupled to the drain electrode of the photosensitive transistor and a gate electrode of the follower transistor, respectively; and
wherein a source electrode of the follower transistor is coupled to a second power supply voltage signal line; a drain electrode of the follower transistor is coupled to the source electrode of the first gating transistor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The microfluidic system of claim 2, wherein each photosensitivity detection circuit further includes a second gating transistor between the photosensitive transistor and the reset transistor; and
wherein a gate electrode of the second gating transistor is coupled to a fifth scan signal line; a source electrode of the second gating transistor is coupled to the drain electrode of the photosensitive transistor; and a drain electrode of the second gating transistor is coupled to the drain electrode of the reset transistor and the gate electrode of the follower transistor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the driving transistor and the first gating transistor are an identical transistor, and the second scan signal line and the third scan signal line are an identical signal line.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein each driving circuit further includes an amplifier transistor between the driving transistor and the data signal line; and
wherein a gate electrode of the amplifier transistor is coupled to the data signal line and a constant voltage signal line, respectively; a source electrode of the amplifier transistor is coupled to a third power supply voltage signal line; and a drain electrode of the amplifier transistor is coupled to the source electrode of the driving transistor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic system of claim 1, further comprising a light shielding layer between the second hydrophobic layer and the photosensitivity detection circuits;
wherein light transmission structures are formed in the light shielding layer at regions corresponding to some of the photosensitive transistors of the photosensitivity detection circuits.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The microfluidic system of claim 6, wherein each light transmission structure is formed in the light shielding layer only at a region corresponding to one of every two adjacent photosensitive transistors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The microfluidic system of claim 7, wherein all transistors of the photosensitivity detection circuits and the driving circuits are bottom gate type transistors in an identical layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic system of claim 1, further comprising a light shielding layer between the second hydrophobic layer and the photosensitivity detection circuits; and
wherein the light shielding layer only covers two first gating transistors and one photosensitive transistor of every two adjacent photosensitivity detection circuits.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic system of claim 1, wherein the common electrode layer is between the upper substrate and the first hydrophobic layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The microfluidic system of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of integrators coupled to read signal lines in a one-to-one manner;
a processor coupled with the integrators; and
a driver coupled with the processor;
wherein the driver is coupled with the data signal lines.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A method for driving the microfluidic system of claim 1, comprising:
in an acquisition period, applying a turn-off signal to the first scan signal line, applying a turn-on signal to the second scan signal line, and acquiring a signal output from the read signal line; and
in a driving period, applying a turn-on signal to the third scan signal line, and applying a driving signal to the data signal line.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein each photosensitivity detection circuit includes a reset transistor and a follower transistor, before the acquisition period, the method further includes:
in a reset period, applying a turn-off signal to the first scan signal line, applying a turn-on signal to the fourth scan signal line, and applying a turn-on signal to the second scan signal line.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein each photosensitivity detection circuit further includes a second gating transistor, the method further includes:
applying a turn-on signal to the fifth scan signal line in the reset period and in the acquisition period.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein in the reset period, a duration for applying the turn-on signal to the fifth scan signal line is less than a duration for applying the turn-on signal to each of the fourth scan signal line and the second scan signal line; and
wherein in the acquisition period, a duration for applying the turn-on signal to the fifth scan signal line is less than a duration for applying the turn-on signal to the second scan signal line.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein in the acquisition period, the turn-on signal is continuously applied to the second scan signal line.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein in the acquisition period, two turn-on signals with a time interval are applied to the second scan signal line.

### Claim 18

A microfluidic system comprising:
an upper substrate;
a lower substrate that is opposite to the upper substrate;
a liquid drop accommodation space between the upper substrate and the lower substrate;
a first hydrophobic layer at an outermost surface of the upper substrate, and the outermost surface of the upper substrate facing the liquid drop accommodation space;
a second hydrophobic layer at an outermost surface of the lower substrate, and the outermost surface of the lower substrate facing the liquid drop accommodation space;
a common electrode layer between the upper substrate and the lower substrate;
an array of first photosensitivity detection circuits between the lower substrate and the second hydrophobic layer;
an array of second photosensitivity detection circuits between the lower substrate and the second hydrophobic layer; and
an array of driving circuits between the lower substrate and the second hydrophobic layer;
wherein each of the first photosensitivity detection circuits and second photosensitivity detection circuits includes a photosensitive transistor and a first gating transistor;
wherein a gate electrode of the photosensitive transistor is coupled to a first scan signal line, a source electrode of the photosensitive transistor is coupled to a first power supply voltage signal line, and a drain electrode of the photosensitive transistor is coupled to a source electrode of the first gating transistor;
wherein a gate electrode of the first gating transistor is coupled to a second scan signal line, and a drain electrode of the first gating transistor is coupled to a read signal line;
wherein each driving circuit includes a driving transistor and a driving electrode; a gate electrode of the driving transistor is coupled to a third scan signal line, a source electrode of the driving transistor is coupled to a data signal line, and a drain electrode of the driving transistor is coupled to the driving electrode; and
wherein the photosensitive transistor of each of the first photosensitivity detection circuits is configured to perform optical detection; and the photosensitive transistor of each of the second photosensitivity detection circuits is configured to be used as a comparison transistor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The microfluidic system of claim 18, wherein the first photosensitivity detection circuits and the second photosensitivity detection circuits are alternately arranged.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The microfluidic system of claim 19, further comprising a light shielding layer between the second hydrophobic layer and the first and second photosensitivity detection circuits; and
wherein the light shielding layer only covers the second photosensitivity detection circuits.